USPTO Patents Application 09695499

Mar 12 07 10:20a Intel Corporation

520-868-6681

Amendments to the Claims

Please amend Claims 63, 73 and 83. ITie Claim listing below will replace aU prior
versions of the claims in the application.

Claim Listing
1-62. (Canceled)

63. (Currently Amended) A network storage system comprising:

a virtual file system ("VFS") to store file system information for a single file
system, wherein a client of the network storage system accesses the VFS over a network
to manage a plurality of files of the single file system, and wherein the client receives a
storage resource locator ("SRL") from the VFS to access a file in the single file system;
and

a plurality of storage centers, located in geographically disparate locations from
each other^ and the client and the VFS, a nd coupled to the client through a wide area,
public access network, each of the storage centers for storing a plurality of files for the
single file system, wherein the client of the network storage system transmits the received
' SRL to one of the storage centers over the wide area, public access network to download
the file over the wide area, public access network, and wherein the SRL includes a public
access network address for a storage center to access one of the storage centers over the
wide area, public access network and a unique identifier associated with the contents of
the file to uniquely identify the file stored at one of the storage centers.

64. (Previously Presented) The network storage system of claim 63, fiirther comprising a
storage port for accessing at a client, the virtual file system and the storage centers, the
storage port to translate a client file system request to a file system request including the
file identifier to identify the file in the single file system.

65. (Previously Presented) The network storage system of claim 64, fiirther comprising at
least one additional storage port for accessing the virtual file system and the storage
centers in the event of a failover condition of the storage port.

Application No.: 09/695,499 Examiner J.H. Hwang

Attorney Docket >Jo.: P19172 -2- Art Unit 2166

PACE 4(14 • RCVD AT 3/12/2007 1 :19:04 PM [Eastern Daylight Time] * SVR:USPTO-EFXRF-5/7 * DNIS:2738300 • CSID:520 868 6681 * DURATION (mm-5S):03-40

Mar 12 07 10:20a Intel Corporation

520-868-6681

66. (Previously Presented) The network storage system of claim 63, wherein each storage
center comprises:

a plurality of distributed object storage managers ("DOSMs") for receiving
requests to access the storage center; and

a storage cluster, comprising a plurality of intelligent storage nodes, for storing
files of the network storage system for serving access requests firom the DOSMs, each
intelligent node including a processor core and a plurality of storage devices.

67. (Previously Presented) The networic storage system of claim 66, further comprising a
multi-cast protocol for maintaining fde information at the DOSMs regjirding files stored
in the intelligent storage node.

68. (Previously Presented) The network storage system of claim 66, v^iierein the DOSMs
fiirther comprise a data cache for caching at least a subset of files stored in the intelligent
node.

69. (Previously Presented) The network storage system of claim 68, further comprising a
load balancing fiabric for selecting a DOSM for an access request based on demand to
access the storage center, and for caching data for files in high demand in the data caches
of the DOSMs.

70. (Previously Presented) The network storage system of claim 64, fijither comprising a
dynamic failover mechanism for servicing access requests from a disparate storage center
in the event that a failure occurs in another one of the storage centers.

7 1 . (Previously Presented) The network storage system of clam 63, fiuther comprising a
content delivery network coupled to the network storage system.

72. (Previously Presented) The network storage system of claim 63, wherein the file
identifier includes a digital fingerprint derived from the contents of the file.

Application No.: 09/695,499

Attorney Docket No.: PI 9172 -3

Examiner J.H. Hwang
Art Unit: 2166

PACE 5/14 • RCVD AT 3/12/2007 1:19:04 PM CEastem Daylight Time] • SVR:USPTO-EFXRF-5/7 • DNIS:2738300 • CSID:520 868 6681 • DURATION (mm«s):03-40

Mar 12 07 10:21a Intel Corporation 520-868-G681 p,6

73. (Currently Amended) A method for storing files in a network storage system, the method
comprising:

storing file system information in a virtual file system ("VFS'') for a single file
system;

receiving a request fi-om a client at the VFS to access a file in the network storage
system;

generating at the VFS, in response to the request fix>m the client, a storage

resource locator ("SRL");

storing a plurality of files for the single file system in a plurality of storage
centers, the storage centers located in geographically disparate locations from each other^
the client and the VFS ;

coupling the storage centers to the client through a wide area, pubhc access

network;

transmitting, from the client to one of the storage centers, over a wide area, public
access network, the SRL received fi-om the VFS, wherein the SRL comprises information
to access a storage center over the wide area, public access network and comprises a
unique file identifier associated with contents of the file to uniquely identify the file
stored at one of the storage centers; and

downloading, over the wide area, public access network, the file identified by the
SRL fit)m the storage center identified to the client.

74. (Previously Presented) The method of claim 73, further comprising:

accessing, at a client, the virtual files system and the storage centers using a
storage port, the storage port to translate a client file system request to a file system
request including the file identifiea* to identify the file in the single file system,

75. (Previously Presented) The method of claim 73, further comprising the virtual file system
and the storage center in the event of a failover condition of the storage port from at least
one additional storage port

Application Mo.: 09/695,499

Attorney Docket No.: PI 9172 -4

Examiner J.H. Hwang
Art Unit: 2166

PACE 6/14 * RCVD AT 3/12/2007 1:19:04 PM [Eastern Daytight Time) * SVR:USPTO-EFXRF-5/7 * DNtS:2738300 ' CSID:520 868 6681 • DURATION (nrim-ss):O3-40

Mar 12 07 10:21a Intel Corporation 520-8G8-6G81 p*7

76. (Previously Presented) The method of claim 73, wherein downloading the file from the
storage center comprises;

receiving a request for access to the storage center;

selecting one of a plurality of distributed object storage managers (DOSMs) to
service the request; and

accessing an intelligent storage node from the DOSM selected to service the
request, each intelligent node including a processor core and a plurality of storage
devices.

77. (Previously Presented) The method of claim 76, further comprising:

issuing commands fh>m a multi-cast protocol to maintain file information at the
DOSMS requesting files stored in the intelligent storage node.

78. (Previously Presented) The method of claim 76, further comprising:

caching at least a subset of files stored in the intelligent nodes at the DOSMs.

79. (Previously Presented) The method of claim 76, further comprising:

selecting a DOSM for a download request based on demand to access the storage
center; and

caching data for files in high demand in the DOSMs.

80- (Previously Presented) The method of claim 73, further comprising:

servicing access requests fiom a disparate storage center in the event that a failure
occurs in the storage center.

81 . (Previously Presented) The method of claim 73, fiuther comprising:

accessing the storage center fit>m a content delivery network.

82. (Previously Presented) The method of claim 73, wh^ein the file identifier includes a
digital fingerprint derived from the contents of the file.

Application No.: 09/695,499 Examiner /.H. Hwang

Attorney Docket No.: P19172 -5- Art Unit 2166

PACE 7/14 * RCVD AT 3/12«007 1 :19:04 PM [Eastern Daylight Time] * SVR:USPTO-EFXRF.5/7 * ONIS:2738300 • CSiD:520 868 6681 ' DURATION (mm-ss):03-40

Mar 12 07 10:21a

Intel Corporation

520-868-G681

p. 8

83. (Currently Amended) A network storage system comprising:

a virtual file system ("VFS'*) for storing file system information for a single file
system, wherein a client of the network storage system accesses the VFS over a network
to manage a plurality of files of the single file system, and wherein the client receives a
storage resource locator ("SRL") firom the VFS to access a file in the single file system;
and

a storage center, coupled to the clien t and the VPS and each oth e r through a wide
area, public access netwoik, for storing a plurality of files for the single file system,
wherein the client of the network storage system transmits the received SRL to the
storage center over the public access network to download files over the wide area, public
access network, and wherein the SRL comprises information to access the storage center
over the wide area, public access network and comprises a unique file identifier
associated vwth the contents of the file to uniquely identify the file stored at the storage
center.

84. (Previously Presented) The network storage system of claim 83, wherein the file
identifier includes a digital fingerprint derived from the contents of the file.

85. (New) The network storage system of claim 63, wherein the SRL is received from the
VFS over a control path and the file is downloaded from the storage center over a data
path.

Examiner: J.H. Hwang
Art Unit: 2166

Application No.: 09/695,499
Attorney Docket No.: P 19 172

-6-

PACE 8/14 * RCVD AT 3/12/2007 1:19:04 PM [Eastern Daylight Time] * 8VR:USPTO-EFXRF-S/7 " DNIS:2738300 * CSID:520 868 6681 « DURATION (mm-ss): 03-40